Alik Ron, who was Northern District Police Commissioner during the Israeli-Arab riots of last October in which 13 Arabs were killed, gave testimony about the period today before the Ohr Commission. The committee is charged with finding the cause of the riots and deciding whether the police over-reacted to the violence. Ron began his testimony with a short historical overview of the Arab struggle against Jewish land purchases.
Regarding the October riots, Ron said that they basically began three years earlier during a violent demonstration in the Israeli-Arab town of Shfaram against the destruction of an illegal structure. \"The country\'s leaders, including President Ezer Weizman, appeased the rioters at the time and thus legitimized their complaints,\" Ron said. He also added that Israeli-Arab leaders \"incited their people for years against the State and blocked all attempts at dialogue.\"
Regarding the October riots, Ron said that they basically began three years earlier during a violent demonstration in the Israeli-Arab town of Shfaram against the destruction of an illegal structure. \"The country\'s leaders, including President Ezer Weizman, appeased the rioters at the time and thus legitimized their complaints,\" Ron said. He also added that Israeli-Arab leaders \"incited their people for years against the State and blocked all attempts at dialogue.\"